Adjustable appliance for ladders.



No. 810,170. PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

' M. POTTER.

ADJUSTABLE APPLIANCE FOR LADDERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.21, 1904.

UNITED STATES BATEN in.

MORGAN POTTER, OF FISHKlLL-ON-THE-HUDSON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THEMORGAN POTTER COMPANY, OF FISHKILLON-THE-HUDSON,

NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 19 06.

Application filed September 21, 190 Serial No- 225,309.

To all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, MORGAN POTTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fishkill-on-the-Hudson, in the county of Dutchess and Stateof New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements inAdjustable Appliances for Ladders, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and -tothe letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention has relation to that class of appliances for ladders whichare employed at the bottom thereof for the purpose of varying the lengthof one of the ladder sides or rails, so as to make the bottom of theladder conform to the configuration of the ground on which it islocated, thereby compelling the ladder to stand in a proper uprightposition, as it would upon a level foundation, though it be erected onan uneven foundation.

Heretofore inthis class of devices it has been proposed to cut away thematerial of the ladder-rail to accommodate a sliding piece and also toap ly a sliding piece di-v rectly against the ou er face of theladderrail and to compel the same to bite into the wood, by both ofwhich constructions the strength of the ladder is not only impaired,

but the necessary extent of adjustment and the requisite strength andreliability of the appliance fail to be attained.

The principal object of my invention is, therefore, to provide orproduce a device which may be easily and quickly fitted to the lower endof one of the rails of a ladder without altering or weakening theladder, and

which will be amply strong in any position to which it may be adjusted,and which will afford-a degree or extent of adjustment commensurate withits size and weight and commensurate with the requirements of allordinary circumstances.

Subordinate objects are to make the device applicable to, any size andshape of the ladder-rail and to secure facility of adjustment andreliability of holding power at any point to'which it may be adjusted.

To accomplish all of these objects and to secure other and furtheradvantages in the matters of construction, operation, and use, my

improvements involve certain new and useful arrangements, constructions,and combinations of parts, as will be herein first fully described andthen pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a front elevation showing the bottom part of a ladder with myimproved appliance mounted thereon, the adjustable foot or sliding piecebeing extended beyond the foot ofthe ladderrail only to about one-fourthof its possible extension; and Fig. 2 is a corresponding side view. Fig.3 is a side elevation of the base or bed'plate, which is affixed to theladder rail, the same being shown as provided with rearwardlyextendingside projections to adapt it to be fitted upon a rounded rail whenrequired. Fig. 4 is afront elevation or face view corresponding withFig. 3. Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of arounded ladderrail and an endview of the base or bed plate which is to be affixed .to the outside ofthe This lower end of one of the ladder-rails. plate is preferably madeof light cast metal, and it is fixed in place by'simple wood-screws orby screw-bolts, as may be preferred. Wood-screws are represented at a a,and screw-bolts at b, the latter "being referably employed at the lowerend, at w ich point the greatest strain will be brought u on thebed-plate in a direction tending to islodge it. At the lower part of thebed-plate C is a cross-bridge D, beneath which the sliding piece oradjustable foot is fitted to move, the ridge being preferably ribbed onthe exte rior, as shown, to contribute strength, and on the upper partof the bed-plate, on its outer face, are a series of cross serrations orledges, (represented at 0,) with which the correspondin ledges orserrations on the inner face of t e sliding piece'at its upper portionare made to engage and lock. To make the bed-plate light withoutimpairing its necessary strength, it may be cut out or recessed,

as at d d.

E is the sliding or adjustable piece. As will be observed, this is ofconsiderable. length as compared. with the distance between the rungs.Its foot or bearing-point is somewhat extended, as represented at e, andat the bottom it is supplied with a slight projection or lugf,calculated to enter a corres onding recess g inthe lower end of the be-plate when the foot 6 is at its highest point or on a level with thebottom. of the rail. Theinner face ofthe slide E is serrated or notchedfrom its upper end downward for about half the length ,of the piece, asat h, to engage with the serrations c, and the sloti in the slide Ereceives the bolt is, which latter is entered through the inner face ofthe ladderrail and through the perforation provided for it in thebed-plate. The lower face of the foot e is preferably serrated, asshown, to afford a good hold on the ground. v

The parts C and E are locked together by the engaging serrations orledges and held immovable at the point to which the slide may beadjusted by any suitable form of nut-as, for instance, a thumb-nut F onthe t 7c- The slide E is made as thin and light as mady be consistentwith its necessary strength, an ample strength to resist sidewisepressure on the ladder is contributed by supplying the slide on itsouter face with marginal ledges or projections, as shown at Z Z. Theseledges ride under and bear against the inner face of the bridge D.

From a consideration of the foregoing it will appear that the slidingpiece or adjustable foot is firmly held by the bridge and by. theholding bolt and nut and that the bridge in no way interferes with thevertical adjustment, the only limit to the extent of vertical adjustmentbeing' the length of the slot 11. The bridge dispenses with thenecessity fora second holding or looking bolt, which would limit theextent of adjustment, and yet it is located so low relatively that itcan clamp the slide E uite snugly and still )ermit the separation ol theupper portion 0" the parts C and E sufliciently to allow theirserrations to pass over each other in the act of adjusting the device.The marginal ribs ion the outer face of the slide E fit in the corn rsof the bridge D, take up wear, and strengthen the slide withoutrequiring it to be made unnecessarily heavy.

The bod-plate is intended to be fastened upon the ladder-rail withoutaltering the latter and without cutting into or otherwise rendering itweak or subjected to unneces sary wear. If the outer face of theladderrail be flat or plain, the flat inner face of the bed-plate fitsagainst it; but if the outer face the latter stood on a levelfoundation, and

this with obvious advantages in raising and using the ladder.

Being constructed and arranged substantiallyin accordance with theforegoing explanations, the improved device will be found to admirablyanswer the purposes and objects of the invention previoiisly set forth.

Having now fully described my invention, what claim as new herein, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character herein set forth, a sliding pieceslotted at its upper part and having serrations on its back and smoothat its lower part, a metallic bed-plate having serrations on its frontat'its upper part and smooth'at its lower part, and having a bridge forcrossing the lower portion of the sliding piece, a bolt passing throu hthe serrated part of the bed-plate and t rough the slot in the slidingpiece, the bolt being located above the cross-bridge, and a nut on thebolt,

the parts being combined and arranged substantially as shown anddescribed,

2. In a device of the character herein set forth, the combination withthe metallic bedplate, of rearwardly-extending side lugs for hearing onthe rounded surface of a ladderrail, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

3. The combination with the metallic bedplate havingits outerfac'eserrated at its up or part and smooth at its lower part; of the s idingpiece having its inner face serrated at its upper art and smooth at itslower part and its bo y slotted lon itudinally through the serrations, alocking-bolt )assing through said slot and through the be(f-plate, athumbnut on the bolt, longitudinal marginal ribs on the outer face ofthe sliding piece throughout its lower portion, and a cross-bridge onthe bed-plate embracing said/sliding piece and into whose angles saidmarginal ribs hear at points below the bolt.

in testimony whereof have signed. my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

Maseru rorrnn.

Witnesses:

M. (Issues, 1. B. Caner-ion.

Ill

